New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-11
SCHOOL LEGISLATION.
A CREpITABLE RECORD FOR THE SESSION.

PLISHEU-DEFECTS IN NEW-fORk CITY.
1PRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBUNEl
ALBANY June IO-One of the most interesting rooms
TO visit in the Capitol is that occupied by Mr. Draper
the Superintendent Of Public Instruction. II contains
many Of the latest appliances for teaching the young
ideas how shoot" with copies OF the recent eouea
tona works and other things Of value to teachers MI
Draper takes great interest in the work OF his depart
ment and the result OF his industry Is SHOWN III the DEN
edcia passed by the Legislature He has visited al
the schools OF the various counties In the state WIN inc
exception of those of New York and Brooklyn Inc New
York schools excepted from the JURISDICTION Oh
the State superintendent but 1t has become custom ior
that official to devote his attention exclusively to other
parts of the state. There is not much doubt however
that he could he of good deal OF benent 10 the Guy
schools The New-York school officials admit that there
| are many teachers employed in the city schoos VINO
from age or other ought not TO De thee ou'
they are either unable unwilling to get rd OF then
Efforts to accomplish end by legislation always fail
of the opposition ward trustees and Interested
city legislators. Among the trustees In New-hork IN
the last few years have been "bOode" Aldermen Full
| graf and Kirk, Joe" Koch, and many well known
| politicians These men have the employment Oh
teachers system with such defects might well under
go State inspection. Assembyman Cantor Introduced
bill at the late session which was reported from the Com
mittee on Education but soon as this was done sum
oient influence was brought bear from interested sper
sons in the city to pgeon-hole it, And this mas peen
the fate Of all such efforts 10 legislate Tor the cy
schools The provisions of this Cantor act are OF them
selves an indictment of the NewYork system This was
| the bill
Section number OF teachers IN any school
city Of shall be in excess o, the
the pupils IN suen school said board a
Te 10 snc school the services Of
teacher to be IN excess 81 s 1y Spopt
schools each OF such teach
schools may And all powers nov conferred
aud all such powers TO ye s1Sc 20 o
or proea y w OF said
board shall to appoint slsewhsre
:ehoo the the d aG le to
vacancies may ocenr OF as ne schools
npSn Ds the Of principals
the Of Sd .a s Bor
on shall for The purposes herein described succeed 10 ana
Section The Board Education make sueh general
they deem fully 10 give elect 70 TINS
] act
In the matter of legislation on the State schools moro
was accomplished the late session than in many years
One OF the most important bills passed is that now
| in the hands OF the Governor providing for uni
form and simultaneous examination OF candidates for
teachers licenses At the present time each one OF tho
1870 School Commissioners In the State has the absolute
control the licensing of teachers in his District
while in the cities the superintendent exercise this
power As Is well known. the Commissioners
are almost invariably chosen on political
grounds and without special regard TO their qualifications
for the place To such officers the absolute author
ity say who shall and who shall not teach In district
IA TO make the OF the power otentimes mere
matter OF and SALE nothing Of personal and
parsan considerations which rule In greater number
of cases In the cities the standard OF qualification
res widely Draper the evils OF this
system as did Mr. Ruggles his Democratic predecessor,
and both united In recommending the passage OF law
to remedy the defect Some OF the New-York teachers
have opposed this bill they have other good measures,
| IA mt he OPPOSITION
II Is general act II ought " be, and 1t would necos
sarily have 10 De the Governors objections IL
provides that the superintendent OF Public instruction
shall establish system OF uniform examinations to test
the qualifications of teachers throughout the state NO
person can employed teacher unless he comes up
to the standard fixed by the superintendent But
any Board of Education or trustees can establish a
state doubt that this bill, II
It becomes law, will greatly Improve the country
schools in many parts OF the state Among the other
bills relating the schools now tn the Governors hands
bi sppropriang the sum of 81 500 for the purpose
OF procuring, publishing and distributing architects
authorizes the State superintendent procure the plans
accompany the with suggestions as 10 the prepa
ang and furnishing of buildings and TO distribute such
publication gratuoIsy Last year o. nere
SaT. upon old ones in this State Very much Of this
large expended by officers VINO are not exper
the necessities and conveniences OF modern school
and was not expended to the best pos
hill ding that school trustees shall keep prop
condition two ouhouses separated entirely from each
other and the approaches which separated by
substantial and subjectng any district negecng
onaie share Of the state moneys The necessity
Of such law ssrkngy apparent in many OF the rural
bill providing the distribution OF revised edition
OF Code OF Public instruction to each school district
bin establishing an Arbor Day to be observed In the
:S%SS to the wl saSs
would gladly grow trees on my anu IL Rnew "at wou
\ and preservation of trees and shrubs
6 providing that school commissioners shall ap-
of days OF attendance rather than upon average
moneys to the school districts BY the school commits
sioners which this bill oontempates upon the aggregate
o, and Of Of
age been recommended TO the department. by school
REPORTS for many years. and it is believed to be
in in that ni % Operate @s'nSa
esutab the %, the he. STATE
asts na@pr Of days would BE-
u Encouraged to maintain school for longer period OF
schools those children of the district not usually in at
tendance thereby the number of days OF attendance
would be increased and the apportlonment correspond
Among the bills relating to the schools which have
already become a law are the following:
An act providing that and boards Of education
s sns sacher ann IN writing specifying the
length OF the term OF empl1yment the amount OF com
p psia and anu that the compensation Of any
teacher In any public school OF the state shall be
deemed be due and payable at least as often a the
end of each calendar month OF the OF employment
This will end a very loose and Objectionable practice thai
now prevails In many distrfcts.
a An act amending the charter OF Cornell University in
relation the state scholarships provides that here
shall be a uniform examination OF candidates held
In each county OF the State under the
supervision OF the state Department Of Public Gnstruc
ton authorizes the State superintendent to I'LL
vacancies which may occur in any county by appoint
ment from another county At time In recent years
have the state scholarships In the University been more
than half filed.
Under this act the superintendent expects TO have
S all the scholarships filed.
bill providing shall file bonds OF collect
ors in the town clerks Offices instead OF carrying them
about In their pockets
bill providing that upon the lands OF non-resi
dents shall paid by the County Treasurer " the col
leotor OF the district, instead OF the trustee
A bill establishing state normal aud training school